Survey No. 8: WHEN WHERE AND WHY, REVISITED

For our first survey of 1998, we went back to the beginning of The Bronx Board and reissued this survey
about where and when we lived in the Bronx, and when and why we left. Our intention was to allow the latest
audience to share this interesting data with us, and share it they did. In only five days we received 162
usable responses, almost three times as many as we received last year. This robust turnout highlights the
growing popularity of the board.

Overall, the results seem to mimic those of the first survey, with some minor but interesting differences.
A few new questions were added this time around.

The total number of unique, usable responses was 162.

The average of the span of years of people living in the Bronx was 1949 through 1971, which is
exactly the same as the first survey's result. The earliest year anyone reported living in the Bronx was 1922, and
the latest was 1997. The average number of years we lived in the Bronx was again 22.

The neighborhood breakdown was as follows:

(Percentages are of all responses, rounded to nearest integer)

Neighborhood

Count

Percentage

Baychester/Coop City

3

2%

Bronx Park East

3

2%

Bronxwood/Gun Hill

4

2%

Castle Hill/Parkchester

19

12%

City Island

0

0%

Crotona

2

1%

Fordham

10

6%

Highbridge

16

10%

Hub/Morrisania

13

8%

Hunt's Point

0

0%

Kingsbridge

13

8%

Marble Hill(actually Manhattan)

1

1%

Mosholu/Bedford Hill

12

7%

Pelham Parkway

16

10%

Reservoir Oval

4

2%

Riverdale/Fieldston

0

0%

St. Ann's

2

1%

Soundview

3

2%

Throgs Neck

5

3%

Tremont

15

9%

University Heights

6

4%

Wakefield

3

2%

Westchester Heights

1

1%

Williamsbridge

1

1%

Woodlawn

3

2%

Not sure

6

4%

How old were you when you left the Bronx?

Age

Count

Younger than 12

5

3%

12 - 20

49

30%

21 - 30

91

56%

31 - 40

15

9%

41 - 50

2

1%

Older than 50

0

0%

What were the reasons you left the Bronx?(Multiple responses were allowed, so the sum of the percentages exceeds 100.)

Reason

Count

Percentage

A Better Life

60

37%

Career Opportunities

21

13%

College/Graduate School

18

11%

Crime/Lack of Safety

33

20%

Educational Opportunities (i.e. better schools)

15

9%

Family Obligations (parents/marriage/divorce/etc.)

55

34%

General Deterioration of the Neighborhood

44

27%

Hated City Life

2

1%

Housing Opportunities

20

12%

Just Needed A Change

13

8%

Military Service

11

7%

Retirement

0

0%

Other*

8

5%

*Many responses providing "other" reasons were moved into one of the above
categories, especially those stating that they left when their parents moved (those were added
to "Family Obligations"). Here's a sampling of some of the "Other" reasons for leaving:

The lure of Manhattan (4 responses mentioned this)

The development of the Cross Bronx Expressway, which forced people out of their homes

Too many parking tickets

Better climate elsewhere

When you left the Bronx, were you sure that you'd never live there again?

Count

Yes

103

64%

No

58

36%

When you left the Bronx, did you leave behind any family?

Count

Yes

137

86%

No

23

14%

Which, if any, of the following expressions would be closest to describing the feeling you
had on the day you finally left the Bronx for good?

Count

Good riddance!

12

8%

It's been a long time coming!

17

11%

So long, I hate to have to leave ya!

17

11%

I'll be back...

12

8%

I'll never love anyplace more than this...

26

16%

None of the above

44

27%

Thanks again to those who participated. Apparently, putting words into people's mouths was not a good idea,
judging by the "None of the Above" responses to the last question. It was interesting to note the swell of
numbers of people from Parkchester/Marble Hill, Pelham Parkway, Tremont and Morrisania sections. The enormous number of us who left
family behind makes clear not only that our roots were well planted in the Bronx, but that our need to leave
(and therefore sever our lives from those roots) was somewhat compelling.